An English as second-language class at Access California Services, an Anaheim, Calif. community organization that provides services to the area's Arab American population. Among the additional amendments that may be proposed to a Senate immigration reform bill is one that would tighten English requirements for immigrants seeking legal status; the bill currently requires that they learn English and civics. Christopher Okula/KPCC

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First thoughts: Full Senate holds its first immigration vote - NBC News The full U.S. Senate is expected to hold its first vote on the comprehensive Senate immigration reform bill today. The motion to proceed with the legislation is expected to receive the required 60 votes, but "the question is whether there are potentially as many as 70 senators who support the final legislation, which would give the legislation lots of momentum." Today's vote may offer a hint.

Obama stumps for immigration bill - USA Today Speaking Tuesday at a White House event, President Obama praised the comprehensive immigration reform plan pending in the Senate, urging that "Congress needs to act, and that moment is now."

Back taxes a thorny issue in immigration bill - Boston Globe Some critics of the Senate's immigration reform plan say that a proposal to collect unpaid taxes from unauthorized immigrants could be problematic, and that it's "unrealistic to think that an illegal immigrant who worked in the underground economy would be able to calculate unpaid taxes and pay potentially huge amounts to the government."

Shootings by agents increase border tensions - New York Times At least 15 people have been killed by U.S. border agents along the southern border since January 2010, "their deaths a jolt to the careful balance of sovereignty and security that underlies a binational debate over immigration reform." No agents involved have been have been criminally charged, and federal officials won't say if any have faced disciplinary action.

Putin sees threat from illegal immigrants - UPI Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly told Russian defense and security officials that he is "concerned by the threat posed by extremists tied to criminal elements and illegal immigrants," and that "law enforcement officials should focus specifically on the threat posed by ethnic and religious extremism."

In Southern California, generations of immigrants are creating an evolving definition of "American." Multi-American is your source for news, conversation and insight on this emerging regional and national identity.